FIJI needs modern meteorological equipment and technology to better prepare for weather and climate threats coming out of El Niño.
Minister for Meteorological Services, Public Works and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau said Fiji and Pacific island countries are highly exposed to El Nino, making it important for national meteorological and hydrological services to modernise their infrastructure and improve the accuracy of scientific information.
Speaking after the fourth Pacific Meteorological ministers meeting in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, he said this required access to the latest scientific equipment and greater support from development partners.
“So in order to do that, they need the latest equipment, scientific equipment, and also collaboration with our development partners,” Ro Filipe said.
Ro Filipe said, Fiji did not currently have access to some of the latest technology used to remotely monitor changes in the atmosphere and oceans.
He said the technology could provide information on ocean currents and temperatures, which was important for understanding and forecasting weather changes.
“So that kind of technology is not available in Fiji, and it’s always changing.”
However, he said Fiji could access such technology through regional cooperation and centres supported by organisations such as SPREP and development partners.
One of the projects discussed at the meeting was the Pacific Hydromet Multihazard Early Warning System, which brings together warning systems covering weather and oceans.
Ro Filipe said ocean temperature monitoring was particularly important because changes in ocean temperatures could contribute to weather patterns such as El Niño and the formation of tropical cyclones.
He said the upgrading of regional centres of excellence was also important, including a meteorological centre in Nadi funded through approximately $27 million from the Government of Japan.
The investment, he said, would help Pacific countries provide more timely and accurate warnings to communities facing cyclones, floods and drought.
“We are able to use it to accurately forecast weather change.”
